Exploring how health insurance affects patient health through provider networks
Official title: Does Health Insurance Promote Health through Providers and Networks?
Funded at National Bureau of Economic Research · NIH-11093515 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how different health insurance plans affect the health of older Americans on Medicare Advantage by seeing how the quality of doctors and hospitals they use can change their health outcomes, so patients can make better choices when picking their insurance.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | National Bureau of Economic Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $312,791 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG075073-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11093515 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older Americans enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans or those with other types of health insurance may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how different health insurance plans influence patient health outcomes by directing them to specific healthcare providers and facilities. It aims to develop new measures of insurance plan quality based on the quality of care provided by these networks. By analyzing the relationship between provider quality and patient outcomes, the research seeks to provide patients with better information for selecting health insurance plans. The focus is primarily on older Americans enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans, aiming to understand how these plans impact health outcomes at a broader level.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could empower patients to choose health insurance plans that lead to better health outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding provider networks can significantly impact patient outcomes, suggesting this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
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National Bureau of Economic Research
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Abaluck, Jason — National Bureau of Economic Research
- Study coordinator: Abaluck, Jason
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.